Belief that "there is some sort of spirit or life force" per country (Eurobarometer 2005)

No belief in "any sort of spirit, god or life force" per country (Eurobarometer 2005)

The following is a list of European countries ranked by religiosity, based on belief in a god, according to the Eurobarometer Poll 2005. The 2005 Eurobarometer Poll asked whether the person believed "there is a god", believed "there is some sort of spirit of life force", "didn't believe there is any sort of spirit, god or life force".

The decrease in theism is illustrated in the 1981 and 1999 according to the World Values Survey,[2] both for traditionally strongly theist countries (Spain: 86.8%:81.1%; Ireland 94.8%:93.7%) and for traditionally secular countries (Sweden: 51.9%:46.6%, France 61.8%:56.1%, Netherlands 65.3%:58.0%). Some countries nevertheless show increase of theism over the period, Italy 84.1%:87.8%, Denmark 57.8%:62.1%. For a comprehensive study on Europe, see Mattei Dogan's "Religious Beliefs in Europe: Factors of Accelerated Decline" in Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion. Turkey and Malta are the most religious countries and Estonia and Czech Republic are the least religious countries in Europe.

During 2007–2008 a Gallup poll asked in several countries the question "Does religion occupy an important place in your life?" The table on right shows percentage of people who answered "No".[3]

Religiosity

European countries have experienced a decline in church membership and church attendance. A relevant example is that Sweden where the church of Sweden, previously the state-church until 2000, claimed to have 82.9 % of the Swedish poplulation as its flock in 2000. Surveys showed this had dropped to 72.9 % by 2008.[4] However in the 2005 eurobarometer poll only 23%[5] of the Swedish population said they believed in a personal God. It is generally thought that this disparity between church claims and numbers of people who actually believe in a god is likely to be the case in many other EU countries, especially in France and northern Europe, as recent trends and surveys are showing.

Eurobarometer poll 2005

The Eurobarometer Poll 2005 found that, on average, 52% of the citizens of EU member states state that they believe in a god, 27% believe there is some sort of spirit or life force while 18% do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god or life force. 3% declined to answer. According to a recent study (Dogan, Mattei, Religious Beliefs in Europe: Factors of Accelerated Decline), 47% of Frenchmen declared themselves as agnostic in 2003.This situation is often called "Post-Christian Europe". A decrease in religiousness and church attendance in western Europe (especially Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden) has been noted, but there is an increase in Eastern Europe, especially in Greece and Romania (2% in 1 year). The Eurobarometer poll must be taken with caution, however, as there are discrepancies between it and national census results. For example in the United Kingdom, the 2001 census revealed over 70% of the population regarded themselves as "Christian" with only 15% professing to have "no religion", though the wording of the question has been criticized as "leading" by the British Humanist Association.[6]

Islam

Islam came to parts of European islands and coasts on the Mediterranean during the 7th century Muslim conquests. In the Iberian Peninsula various Muslim states existed before the Reconquista. During the Ottoman expansion Islam was spread into the Balkans and southeastern Europe. Muslim have also been historically present in Russia. In recent years, Muslims have migrated to Europe as residents and temporary workers.

No religion

There is increasing atheism or agnosticism among the general population in Europe, with falling church attendance and membership in many countries.[19][20] In 2005, a survey of the EU's members at that time found that among EU citizens, 52% believe in a god, 27% in some sort of spirit or life force and 18% had no form of belief. The countries where the fewest people reported a religious belief were the Czech Republic (19%) and Estonia (16%).[21] In such countries, even those who have a faith can be disdainful of organized religion.[22] Across the EU, belief was higher among women, increased with age, those with strict upbringing, those with the lowest levels of formal education, those leaning towards right-wing politics, and those reflecting more upon philosophical and ethical issues.[21]

The secular lifestyle is gaining ground in the Europe Union. Sunday church attendance figures are hovering in the single digits in several European countries. This is especially true with respect to marriage. Whereas the different religions advocate/ mandate the opposite sex marriage as the only "natural" one and typically frown on cohabition, the general population in Europe seems to disagree more and more.

In 2008, the highest ever number of births outside marriage were recorded in the European Union , just short of 37%, up 13 % compared to the year 1995 with first-births out of wedlock and cohabition figures being even higher. Several European countries recorded a majority of births outside marriage, including Iceland (64%), Estonia (59%), Norway (55%) Sweden(55%), Slovenia (54%), France (51%), and Bulgaria (51%), these countries tend to be less religious ones (less than half of the population believing in god) whereas half of the European population believes in god.[23] Within the United Kingdom (45,4%), Scotland (50,1%) and Wales (55,6%)[24] recorded a majority of births outside marriage. In Austria and The Netherlands, more than half of first-borns are born out of wedlock,[25] and in Ireland close to half are. More strikingly as of January 2010, with Austria approving same sex civil unions as per 1 Jan. 2010 and the Portugese parliament approving same sex marriage as of 8 January 2010, more than half of the EU countries allow either same sex marriage of same sex civil unions. The largest religious group in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church strongly opposed to these laws threatening to excommunicate politicians voting in favor of these laws.

A European country has also been the first officially atheist state in the world. Albania in 1967 constitutionally banished religion.[26]